We take many journeys through life and they are not all connected with travel. Major life journeys I have enjoyed include studying at university, getting married, building a house and of course having children. I love the way you start at some place with no clear view of where you will end up, and the journey unfolds as you go along. I have long believed that life is about the journey not the destination. Writing the book of my friends life has been another journey that has led me to delightfully unexpected places.

When I agreed to write the book, I envisaged that it would entail a series of interviews and hours of writing, however I quickly realised that I would have to do some serious research, not something I particularly enjoy. I soon discovered that Google actually doesn’t have all the answers and that I would have to visit the library. To my surprise I spent many delightful hours at the State Library of Queensland, a beautiful modern building on the banks of the Brisbane river. I loved the detective work involved in finding just the right historical information and I enjoyed the time surrounded by Queensland’s history.

While in Melbourne this week my journey led me to the State Library of Victoria. The Library was first established on this site in 1856 and the majestic domed La Trobe Reading Room was added in 1913.

Both these libraries are not staid buildings, they are both abuzz and alive with activity, people drawn in by the free wifi, the study nooks, the amazing architecture and the opportunity to be surrounded by our history.

As for the book I was chasing down in Melbourne, it was not much use, but I am grateful for the journey that took me to these places.

I think maybe like Steve I ended up living in a place I never expected to, doing stuff I never expected to. More by good luck than good management it’s worked out OK, but then good management was never one of my strengths 🙂